Pichilemu Fault
Encyclopedia
The Pichilemu Fault also referred to as the Pichilemu-Vichuquén Fault (Falla de Pichilemu-Vichuquén), is a Chile
an geological fault, located in O'Higgins Region
, some kilometers away from Pichilemu
, at a depth of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). The fault is 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) long and 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) wide.
The fault became active after the February 27, 2010 Chile earthquake
, and gave rise to the 2010 Pichilemu earthquake
on March 11. At first, it was not known if it was formed during the February earthquake, or if it was just reactivated, however, according to University of Chile geologist José Cembrano "[it] corresponds to a long-live fault (in a million years time) whose activity had not been detected before."
"This is a new record that we have found, and it explains why Pichilemu is experiencing so many tremors," the director of the Seismological Service of the University of Chile, Sergio Barrientos told La Tercera
on May 22, 2010. "It is not a crack nor an opening. It's a landslide," Barrientos added.
The Pichilemu Fault, along with the San Ramón Fault
, are currently being studied by geologists of the University of Chile.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an geological fault, located in O'Higgins Region
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
, some kilometers away from Pichilemu
Pichilemu
Pichilemu , originally known as Pichilemo, is a beach resort city and commune in central Chile, and capital of Cardenal Caro Province. It is located southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile, and comprises an urban center and twenty-three villages, such as Ciruelos, Cáhuil, and Espinillo...
, at a depth of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). The fault is 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) long and 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) wide.
The fault became active after the February 27, 2010 Chile earthquake
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
, and gave rise to the 2010 Pichilemu earthquake
2010 Pichilemu earthquake
The 2010 Pichilemu earthquake , also known as the Libertador O'Higgins earthquake, was a 6.9 MW earthquake that struck Chile's O'Higgins Region on 11 March 2010 at 11:39 local time...
on March 11. At first, it was not known if it was formed during the February earthquake, or if it was just reactivated, however, according to University of Chile geologist José Cembrano "[it] corresponds to a long-live fault (in a million years time) whose activity had not been detected before."
"This is a new record that we have found, and it explains why Pichilemu is experiencing so many tremors," the director of the Seismological Service of the University of Chile, Sergio Barrientos told La Tercera
La Tercera
La Tercera , formerly known as La Tercera de la Hora , is a daily newspaper published in Santiago, Chile and owned by Copesa. It is El Mercurios closest competitor....
on May 22, 2010. "It is not a crack nor an opening. It's a landslide," Barrientos added.
The Pichilemu Fault, along with the San Ramón Fault
San Ramón Fault
The San Ramón is a Chilean geological fault, located in eastern Santiago Metropolitan Region, passing trough the eastern part of Santiago marking the boundary between the Chilean Central Valley and the Andes. As an active thrust fault it constitutes a seismic hazard zone for the densely populated...
, are currently being studied by geologists of the University of Chile.